Airplane friendly buggy for toddler

[WolfMother326]

Hello, I'm looking for opinions on the best compact/folding airplane friendly buggy for a taller toddler. He'll be 20 months when we travel but we'd like it to be useful for a couple years. Ideally with option for rain cover, and a lay flat option or close to it. Thanks!

[Megang4]

Sorry leaving a comment cause I need some suggestions too x

[WolfMother326]

Thanks @Megang4 - do you have any ideas? I was looking at the bugaboo butterfly which is pricey, but apparently its not super comfy for older toddlers.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

[Oopswediditagain2023]

We got the John Lewis anyday one - it's not my favourite buggy but it's great for the price and I also don't worry about it getting trashed!

[anomaly23]

Baby jogger. You can pick them up second hand quite cheaply.

[LiquoriceAllsorts2]

I have the bugaboo butterfly and really like it. Not sure why it wouldn’t suitable for older toddlers although mine is still fairly young.

[BananaPalm]

We bought Cybex Libelle precisely for plane travel - it's the only one I could find that would both last till my DS is about 4 years old AND would also fold to cabin bag size (so that we can take it with us on the plane instead of checking it in - many airlines make you check in prams for children over 2yo so you have no pram from the moment you check in till you collect your luggage at your destination!).

[Caspianberg]

We use the babyzen yo-yo with tall 3 year old and he fits fine still and naps occasionally when needed travelling

[poorlychild]

I thought the Yo-yo was the only one able to be taken into the cabin? Anyway the yo-yo is perfect and incredibly light and compact. As soon as you step off the plane you can flip it open with one hand and it's good to go.

[McOrange]

I found the baby zen yo-yo to be a bit fiddly to open and close. We went with the joolz aer which has a wider seat than the yoyo and an easier open / close but fits in the cabin

[fyn]

We have the maxi cosi Lara2 for our two year old. It lays flat, has two baskets underneath, folds up small with a shoulder strap and is only £170 compared to some of the more expensive folding ones!

[ChilliBandit]

Just to make you aware, I’ve been on a couple of flights lately and each time the foldable pushchairs were put in the hold anyway due to lack of space in the overhead lockers. I had considered getting one but decided against it after that. Just checked in a cheap umbrella pram at the gate.

[LiquoriceAllsorts2]

@poorlychild

I thought the Yo-yo was the only one able to be taken into the cabin? Anyway the yo-yo is perfect and incredibly light and compact. As soon as you step off the plane you can flip it open with one hand and it's good to go.

The bugaboo butterfly came out last year as a rival to the Yoyo. I think there are a few others that should also fit in the overhead. The benefit of the Yoyo is that most airline staff seem to know it but you just have to tell them that it’s like the Yoyo.

[Caspianberg]

@ChilliBandit - they can’t make you do that if the pram is your hand luggage.

I pay around £60 extra to take hand luggage to go above head with Ryanair/ easyJet as it’s not included now as standard. They can’t say what someone has for handluggage. One person might have hand luggage suitcase full of haribo.

You can’t expect to take hand luggage bag plus a pram no. But if no other luggage it’s fine.

[ChilliBandit]

@Caspianberg - I didn’t say they said no prams. If there is no physical room in the overhead bins they check them into the hold for free. The luggage can’t just be left in the aisle can it. On the flights I was on all the overhead bins were rammed. They targeted the pushchairs to go into the hold. I assume they are a bit more difficult to squeeze into the overhead bins than a suitcase/rucksack.

[Caspianberg]

@ChilliBandit - why though? The baby zen folds smaller than our hand luggage suitcase. I put mine into bag as I approach plane so it looks less pram like anyway. I don’t want it in hold. If I wanted in hold I would have checked for in for free with suitcase. It’s hand luggage to have before security and luggage collection as it can take hours

[ChilliBandit]

@Caspianberg - no idea, I am not cabin crew, I was merely explaining what I witnessed in the last couple of weeks. Feel free to argue it out with cabin crew if it happens to you. I am sure the rest of the plane will be fully supportive as you delay their takeoff.

[Caspianberg]

Oh I probably wouldn’t

I’m just curious why they can say hand luggage ie xyz size, then surely a passenger who’s paid for that option should be able to decide what they bring within that size?

ie last time we flew before Christmas it was BA. We booked additional seat for our under 2 year old, so paid full price for x3 seats. We upgraded all 3 seats to extra leg room. All 3 seats allow x1 large hand luggage above each, and x1 small by feet. Ie 6 pieces total. We only had x1 pram ( Ds hand luggage above head), and x1 small rucksack by feet. So you can see why I would be peeved as why should an airline sell me space for x6 lots, we take only x2, and then if it was made to go in hold.
Where as Bob in next row could have a handluggage suitcase that’s larger and just filled with porn magazines for all they know. Doesn’t make sense.

People like Ryanair actually sell less priority boarding now than seats so it should always have space

[ChilliBandit]

It was BA. Their hand luggage is generous as you know and I guess people take advantage meaning the cabin is rammed with people and luggage. I do not know why it was pushchairs, just what I witnessed.

[Bergmum]

I have the Joolz Aer. My 3 year old is still very comfortable in it and I have taken it on board a few times with no problems.

[Trautsadnil]

Hi, I’m a granny and not a mum (hope I’m allowed!) I have a silver cross pop stroller which doesn’t have a hood, it’s been well used for my 1st grandchild and now the 2nd is starting sleepovers for childcare, I’d like to get a rain cover for it, but all the universal ones I’ve seen seem to be supported by the hood. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[BananaPalm]

@BananaPalm

We bought Cybex Libelle precisely for plane travel - it's the only one I could find that would both last till my DS is about 4 years old AND would also fold to cabin bag size (so that we can take it with us on the plane instead of checking it in - many airlines make you check in prams for children over 2yo so you have no pram from the moment you check in till you collect your luggage at your destination!).

Just an update a year on from my previous post: DO NOT buy that stroller. Or any similar stroller from Cybex for that matter. The stroller broke a little over a year after we bought it (breaks broke!), my son keeps slouching in it (he's effectively curled up in it, not really sitting) and now it's an absolute nightmare to get the fault fixed. Not sure if they'll deal with it at all and I'll be left for weeks without a pram. The updated cybex breezy or something like that is based on the same principle so avoid all such prams from Cybex. Nightmare.

[WolfMother326]

@BananaPalm oh no! We use our cybex a lot for days out on the train and trips and so far it's been amazing, especially as it goes so easily in the overhead bins. But yes it can be a little slouchy.

[TheVeryAngryCaterpillar]

A Mothercare Nanu one served us well for this type of thing